Anyone Have a Set Of Asbestos Brake Shoes - 1958 Cadillac

[Jon S]

Looking for new riveted  set.

Jon

[gary griffin]

Asbestos is considered a hazardous material and is no longer available in the USA. Ther eare several composites that would be satasfactory and not cive cancer to the guys that work on you brakes.

[pauldridge]

Virtually every decent sized city will have at least one service center that specializes in relining clutches and brakes.  Many times these guys cater to the trucking industry, but do a google in your area and you'll certainly turn up a place that can reline your existing metal brake shoe substrate.

[Jon S]

I do my own work on my car and if handled properly, asbestos poses no health hazard.  I find the non-asbestos linings don't provide the gripping power of asbestos.  I was hoping someone might have a new set laying around.

[gouldsom]

I gotta nos set of two in the original Cadillac boxes if you want them, they are in good condition, ( with rivets ), but one lining is broken.
Cheers Richard

[Jeff Wilk]

The ONLY safe way to handle asbestos is to either bag it and give to a hazmat center or to leave undisturbed. Do some quick research on this stuff and you will find that while you think that you will be the hero by doing your own brakes, the asbestos laden brake dust that is thrown off from your car with every stop actually ends up INSIDE the air of your car and the cars around you enabling it to be inhaled and carried elsewhere from contact by family, friends, and strangers a like. Asbestosis is deadly and that's why asbestos is banned.  Anyone who knowingly uses it is thereby putting the public in harms way and is breaking the law and showing a callus disregard for the health of others.

Sorry, but I do feel strongly about this topic.  No more lead in the gas (or paint), creosote on our docks, DDT on our food crops, or asbestos in our brakes......the world is better for it all!!!

[Jon S]

The ONLY safe way to handle asbestos is to either bag it and give to a hazmat center or to leave undisturbed. Do some quick research on this stuff and you will find that while you think that you will be the hero by doing your own brakes, the asbestos laden brake dust that is thrown off from your car with every stop actually ends up INSIDE the air of your car and the cars around you enabling it to be inhaled and carried elsewhere from contact by family, friends, and strangers a like. Asbestosis is deadly and that's why asbestos is banned.  Anyone who knowingly uses it is thereby putting the public in harms way and is breaking the law and showing a callus disregard for the health of others.

Sorry, but I do feel strongly about this topic.  No more lead in the gas (or paint), creosote on our docks, DDT on our food crops, or asbestos in our brakes......the world is better for it all!!!

I can understand and respect your opinion, but please don't tell me our cars run better with ethanol!

[Gene Beaird]

I've had great luck with semi-metallic brake linings.  It's getting hard to find any for drum brakes, and even 'back in the day' (late '70's and early '80's) I think I had to order a set from our brake supplier.  You could probably get a set done up at the aforementioned clutch and brake rebuilder.  Just a thought.

They tend to be a bit noisy, but that noise can be mitigated, if not completely-controlled with just a bit of work.  They also tend to be a little hard at first but grab well with just a little heat in them.  And they offer fade control no standard asbestos lining can come close to.

[Jon S]

Thanks everyone for your replies.  I don't need brakes presently but was just looking for a spare set to have on hand.  I currently have one of the top rated non-asbestos linings now but believe the asbestos ones previously provided slightly better stopping capabilities.

[gary griffin]

The hazard of asbestos in brakes and clutches is not in the handeling them but in the fact that they are reduced to minute particles and sent into the atmosphere when used for their intended purpose. Mostly dangerous to those who work on them but also to all of us. They are banned for a reason.

Since I have worked in an asbestos rich industry soon after it was banned our union arranged for us to receive a base line physical and when reviewing my Xray with the doctor I saw fireworks (That is the best way I can describe them) in my lungs. I asked the doctor if I would die from it and said that smoking was a 100 multiplier so I was releived as I have never been a smoker and figured my chances are less than 1 percent.

When I get my union news letters I see so many of the guys that are in my age group (! was born in 1940) passing away from asbestos related disease.

[Jon S]

Gary -

I hear you and am sorry for your co-workers!  Thanks for the post.

Jon

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Jon,
Just a thought that legally when ANY asbestos is "discovered" the immediate area must have posted warnings regarding it's presence and that the are is to be considered hazardous.  Brake dust from worn linings coats the outside of the drums, the hub caps and tires as well as the underside of the vehicle regardless of what the material the linings are made of.  Since there are extremely high fines and penalties for "causing the disbursement of a material known to contain Asbestos" anyone found to be using this material for virtually ANY purpose at this time (decades after the material was banned) would have little legal defense.
Greg Surfas